The Packer Pundit

Packers Drafts:

The best of times, the worst of times.

It's hard to overstate the importance of good drafting.
Many feel that Mike Sherman the GM was the one who ultimately got Mike Sherman the coach fired. Would the Packers ever have made it to the Super Bowl if not for Ron Wolf using a 1st round pick to acquire Brett Favre? Would the Packers have avoided all those years of futility had Dan Devine not traded two firsts, two seconds, and a third for John Hadl? Looking back at packer drafts of the last twenty five years, I have put a list together of the best and worst Packer picks.

The Best:
(1) Brett Favre - At the time Ron Wolf made the trade many thought a first round pick was too much for a QB that had been picked in the second round the year before and had more completions to the other team then his own in his rookie year. Sixteen years later it has proved to be one of the shrewdest moves in franchise history.
(2) Don Majkowski- A 10th round pick, made it to the Pro Bowl and led the cardiac Pack to some respectability before sustaining a career changing injury in 1990.
(3) Mark Tauscher - A 7th round pick became a starter his rookie year and has been there ever since.
(4) Dorsey Levins - A 5th round pick and Pro Bowler who went on to put up the third best years by a running back in Packer history.
(5) Bryce Paup - Was a dominant force for a number of years and was a find in the 6th round.

Best single draft year:
(Tie)
1990 - Tony Bennett, Leroy Butler, Jackie Harris, and Bryce Paup were all Pro Bowl level players.
1992 - Brett Favre (for a 1st ), Robert Brooks, Edgar Bennett, Mark Chumura, and Ty Detmer.

The Best (Honorable Mention):
Brian Noble (5th round/1985), Tim Harris (4th /1986), Chuck Cecil (4th /1988), Chris Jacke (6th /1989), Jackie Harris (4th /1990), Robert Brooks (3rd /1992), Mark Chumura (6th /1992), Mark Brunnel (5th /1993), Doug Evans (6th /1993), Antonio Freeman (3rd /1995), Adam Timmerman (7th /1995), Marco Rivera (6th /1996), Keith McKenzie (7th /1996), Matt Hasselbeck (6th /1998), Donald Driver (7th /1999), KGB (5th /2000), and Aaron Kampman (5th /2002).

The Worst:
(1) Tony Mandarich (Not even close) - The Packers passed on Barry Sanders, Deion Sanders, and Derrick Thomas to draft Tony Mandarich. Never had any impact on the Packers, and was let go after two years.
(2) Rich Campbell - The 6th overall pick in 1981, had a three year career. The packers front office was split between Campbell and a Safety from USC by the name of Ronnie Lott that year.
(3) Jamal Reynolds - After three years and just three sacks the Packers cut Jamal in 2004.
(4) Terrell Buckley - Passed on local product Troy Vincent who became a perennial Pro Bowler, while Buckley lasted only three years in Green Bay. (5) Brent Fullwood - The 4th overall pick had his moments, but only lasted four years in Green Bay.

Worst single draft:
(Tie)
1989 - This is regarded as one of the best drafts in the past 25 years and the Packers had 14 selections. The best pick was Kicker Chris Jacke in the 6th round.
2004 - Really too early to do a fair evaluation, but 3rd round pick Joey Thomas has already been cut and it now appears Washington may be let go soon. They reached for a punter (B.J. Sander) who along with first round pick Ahmad Carroll have been disappointments.

The Worst (Dishonorable Mention):
Dave Drecshler (3rd /1983), Alphonso Carreker (1st /1984), Donnie Humphrey (3rd /1984), Robbie Bosco (3rd /1986), Anthony Dilweg (3rd /1989), Darrel Thompson (1st /1990), Vinnie Clark (1st /1991), Chuck Webb (3rd /1991) Mark D'Onfrio (2nd /1992), Leshon Johnson (3rd /1994), Darius Holland (3rd /1995), John Michels (1st /1996), Derrick Mayes (2nd /1996), Brett Conway (3rd /1997), Jonathon Brown (3rd /1998), Antuan Edwards (1st /1999), Steve Warren (3rd /2000), Bhawoh Jue (3rd /2001), Torrance Marshall (3rd /2001), Marques Anderson (3rd /2002), and Joey Thomas (3rd /2004) - cut in year two.